GORHAM, ME: Senior guard Niki Dominiczak (Dixfield, ME) and junior forward Jess Libby (Orono, ME) scored a team co-high 13 points each, and the University of Southern ME Huskies overcame a second half rally by the Keene State Owls to post a 57-53 Little East Conference win Saturday afternoon at the Hill Gymnasium.

Currently ranked sixth in the latest D3Hoops.com national poll, the Huskies have now won 15 consecutive games to improve their overall record to 18-1 and a perfect 9-0 in the league. Keene State fell to 10-7 and 5-4.

The Huskies, who led throughout, enjoyed their largest lead of the game a 41-26, when senior center Jaime Zahm (Montpelier, Vt.) sank a pair of free throws with 13:49 to play in the game. However, Keene State answered with a 19-8 run, culminating on a three pointer from freshman guard Cathy Mechare (Falls Village, CT) to pull within 49-45 with 4:04 to play. The Owls had a chance to trim the deficit further, but senior forward Nicole Fargione (Colonie, N.Y.) missed the front end of a one-and-one foul shot with 3:45 to play.

Southern ME rallied to score five consecutive points, building a 54-45 advantage with 1:34 to play, before Merchare pulled the Owls to within 54-47 with 1:05 remaining.

The Huskies had an opportunity to put the game out of reach from the line in the final minute, but they missed four of seven free throws. Libby sank the second of two shots with eight seconds to play to give the Huskies a 57-51 advantage. Mechare answered for the Owls with two seconds remaining, to account for the 57-53 final.

Zahm contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, while Dominiczak also had eight caroms for the Huskies. The Owls were paced by senior guard Sarah Linn (Brattelboro, Vt.), who scored a game-high 16 points, while Mechare added 14 and senior forward Erika Forsberg (Laconia, N.H.) added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Southern ME returns to action on Wednesday, when it travels to St. Joseph's College, while Keene State will entertain New England College on Tuesday.